Training for keel boat racing aspirants

Dates throughout the summer for UKSA, Plas Menai and Port Edgar

Aspiring keelboat racing talents from around the country are still able to take advantage of a number of high-level race training weekends, run out of the three recently-announced regional centres for the British Keelboat Academy.

Plas Menai National Watersports Centre (Caernarfon, North Wales) Port Edgar Marina and Sailing School (Edinburgh, Scotland) and UKSA (Cowes, Isle of Wight) will be offering experienced dinghy sailors and existing keelboat sailors an opportunity to attend a series of weekends of training, run by highly experienced RYA keelboat coaches.

The training events will consist of sessions on the water covering areas including boat handling and sail trim. This will be followed up with debriefs ashore, giving the sailors feedback on the session, and also additional technical input into areas such as teamwork and tactics. All sailors will also be given advice on opportunities to develop their keelboat sailing, both locally and elsewhere.

As well as providing input during the training, coaches will also be looking to talent-spot suitable sailors for the British Keelboat Academy. This national keelboat race training programme offers the squad of the country’s top young keelboat sailors the opportunities to develop their skills, experience and contacts to allow them to compete at the highest level. The most promising young sailors for each regional training will automatically be offered a place for the competitive selections for the BKA, held in the autumn.

RYA Racing Manager John Derbyshire, one of the BKA’s Directors, commented: “This is an excellent opportunity for ambitious keelboat sailors who have the desire and determination to progress into the national programme. By using RYA qualified Keelboat coaches, they will be able to fast track the key tips to help accelerate keelboat skills which really makes this a must attend event for any aspiring Keelboat sailor who wants to break into the British Keelboat Academy. I would recommend booking a space at either one of the three regional centres as soon as possible as I am sure spaces will be limited.”

Training dates:
Plas Menai Dates: 16-17 April, 18-19 June, 20-21 August and 17-18 September
Port Edgar Dates: 7-8 May, 4-5 June and 20-21 August
UKSA Dates: 2-3rd April, 7-8th May and 27-28th August

To be part of this exciting new training programme, please contact the venues directly to book. Sailors will normally be aged between 16-21 years old. Full details are available on the British Keelboat Academy website www.britishkeelboatacademy.org